SESSION 3
POWER LIKE
NO OTHER
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What forms of power really get
your attention?
QUESTION
#1
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#BSFLpower
BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE
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THE POINT
Jesus has power over all my fears.
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
We can expect bad days, weeks, and even months. They come with
living on a fallen earth with fallen humanity as a fallen child of the
King. But we’re never to define peace by our circumstances. That’s
because we have a far better source for peace—and for courage. In
fact, it’s the only true Source.
Jesus told us clearly: “I have told you these things, so that in me you
may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I
have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
We all face uneasy times. Whether economic, health-related,
relational, or financial, these situations often cause us to feel
powerless or overwhelmed. But as we’ll see in this study, Jesus has
power like no other. And He will use His power on our behalf.
To see what I mean, let’s look at an event in Jesus’ ministry where He
revealed His power on behalf of His followers.
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WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Mark 4:35-41 (NIV)
35 That day when evening came, he said to his
disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”
36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along,
just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats
with him.
37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over
the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.
The other side (v. 35)—
Refers to the eastern bank of
the Sea of Galilee, which at the
time was territory belonging to
the Gentiles.
Sleeping (v. 38)—This is
the only instance recorded
in the Gospels in which Jesus
was specifically identified as
being asleep.
38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The
disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you
care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves,
“Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was
completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do
you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is
this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
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THE POINT
Jesus has power over all my fears.
Mark 4:35-38a
On Sundays, I preach two one-hour messages each week. I also typically have meetings with different
church leaders. Needless to say, I’m worn out by the time Sunday afternoon comes along. When I get
home, I head straight for my favorite chair to rest. Before I know it, I’m asleep.
Jesus wasn’t reclining in an easy chair in Mark 4. It was night. It was dark. It was windy. The boat was
rocking fiercely in the middle of a savage storm that threatened to sink it. How do you fall asleep during
that? Granted, Jesus was surely exhausted after a long day of teaching and ministry, but He did more
than just nod off. When Jesus went to sleep on that boat, He did so on purpose.
How do I know this? Verse 38 says He was “sleeping on a cushion.” Jesus had grabbed a pillow and moved
to the back of the boat. When you’re stretched out and asleep on a pillow, you mean to be that way.
But how could Jesus sleep through such a squall when His disciples feared for their lives? Perhaps He
wanted to see if they would trust what He said more than the circumstances around them. Jesus had
already told them what they were going to do. He said, “Let us go over to the other side.” He planned to
reach the far shore safe and sound, and no storm would alter His plan.
Jesus’ disciples did what we often do when we listen to a sermon or participate in a Bible study—they
heard the message without applying the meaning. They heard the words but missed the promise. When
you find yourself in a problem, don’t forget the promise. Remember what Jesus said. He’s right there with
you, so trust Him to calm the waves.
In what ways do we typically respond to
frightening situations?
QUESTION
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#2
Mark 4:38b-39
The location of the Sea of Galilee in the Jordan Rift causes tempests
to flare up violently with little or no notice. In the deepest dark
of night, out in the middle of the sea, the storm surely must have
caught the disciples off-guard. The storm tested not only their
boating expertise, but also their emotions.
Sometimes it doesn’t seem like God is in tune with our situations.
When we find ourselves in stormy conditions—health, financial,
relational, or job troubles—we may want to say: “Jesus, please wake
up! We’re in a mess, and we’re afraid.”
How have you
learned that God
really does care
about His people?
QUESTION
#3
It is precisely in those times when we feel so weak and helpless that
Jesus’ power is most visibly strong. God does some of His best
work in those moments we don’t think He’s working at all.
Sometimes God lets you hit rock bottom so that you will
discover He is the Rock at the bottom.
Sometimes God allows you to get into a situation only He can
fix so that you will see Him fix it.
Whatever the case, you can trust His work is motivated by His heart
of love for you (see Rom. 8:28).
Jesus got up from His slumber and spoke to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”
Two brief commands, and the storm obeyed. The word for “quiet”
literally means “hold your peace.” Jesus told the storm to be quiet.
To stop its noise. To hush its fuss. Similar to a parent correcting an
unruly toddler, Jesus told the sea to settle down—and it did.
Thunder and lightning might be chasing each other all around you.
The wind may be blowing unexpected and unpleasant circumstances
into your life. Nothing looks right. Nothing looks promising. But it’s
precisely in those times that Jesus’ power trumps the storm.
© 2014 LifeWay
How can we reconcile
the truth of Jesus’
power with the fact
that He doesn’t
always calm
the storm?
QUESTION
BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE
#4
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THE POINT
Jesus has power over all my fears.
Mark 4:40-41
The story is told of a flight that hit some unusual turbulence, tossing the airplane side to side in
strong gusts of wind. Lightning hit nearby. No one felt safe—no one except for one small child. He sat
preoccupied with his notebook and pen. To look at him, you never would have guessed he was on a
plane in the middle of a storm. A passenger nearby asked the young boy, “Aren’t you afraid?”
He just looked up from his paper for a moment, smiled, and said: “Nah. My dad is the pilot.”
When you know who’s in the cockpit, even turbulence can be okay. Because when life seems out of control,
it’s simply out of your control. Knowing who sits at the control panel ought to usher in a heart of peace.
Peace means different things to different people, but the peace Jesus offers is like no other. His peace
produces internal calm in the midst of external chaos. We experience the peace of Christ when we trade
in our fears of the storm for a healthy fear and reverence of Him—when we shift our gaze from the sea
to the Savior.
Paul told us to respond to God’s peace the same way the storm responded to Jesus that night on the
Sea of Galilee. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” (Col. 3:15). The Greek word used for “control”
means “to umpire.” In baseball, an umpire declares the way things are. Whatever he says should happen
is what happens. Likewise, whatever Jesus says about a matter, that’s what it is. It’s settled. So when
He says “Take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33), that’s all we need to hear. And we should
respond accordingly—with courage.
Your world may be falling apart, but you don’t have to fall apart with it. Responding to Jesus’ presence
and power in your life allows you to let go of your fear and replace it with peace—His peace. That
doesn’t mean you won’t have problems, but it does mean your problems won’t have you. You can rest
comfortably on your cushion, because He’s got it under control.
In your everyday life, what does it mean to respond to
Jesus’ power?
QUESTION
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#5
ALL MY FEARS
Which of these images connects with your deeper fears?
How can you more fully incorporate Jesus into your methods for handling your fears?
" He is no fool who g ives what he cannot keep
in order to gain what he cannot lose ."
—J I M E L L I O T
© 2014 LifeWay
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THE POINT
Jesus has power over all my fears.
LIVE IT OUT
In what ways can you let go of your fears as you trust in Jesus’ power?
Consider the following suggestions:
Write it down. Make a list of the most pressing external
problems that give rise to your internal fears. Pray over this list
in connection with the truth found in John 16:33.
Watch your words. Each day, assess whether your speech
is more focused on your problems or on Jesus, who is the
solution. Seek to speak more openly about Jesus.
Pray together. Consider ways you can encourage others
to trust Christ. Look for evidence of people struggling with
turmoil and invite them to pray with you for peace.
You really don’t know how much faith you have until your faith gets
tested. Keep your eyes on Jesus in the midst of life’s storms, ask for
His help, and trust Him to get you to the other side.
A Father's Call to Fight
A Father’s
Call to Fight
Each year when summer rolls around, my wife and kids honor me on
Father’s Day. For me, Father’s Day is not only a day to reflect on the greatest
blessings God’s given me — my family — but also a day to reflect on God, the
ultimate Father.
By Craig Groeschel
To continue reading “A Father’s Call to Fight” from ParentLife magazine,
visit BibleStudiesforLife.com/articles.
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My g roup's prayer requests
My thoughts
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